from the democrat-controlled senate, top democrat harry reid, and the top republican mitch mcconnell. senator reid says there is no time to reach a deal. mr. mcconnell says he is more optimistic. then from the republican controlled house of representatives, the top republican john boehner has rejected president obama's previous offers and the morse -- most senior democrat in the house, nancy pelosi. what is the cliff and can be avoided? >> the house of representatives will be going back into session sunday but at this point we do not know what kind of measure they have before them that they can consider for a vote. there has been no indication from the white house or the republican leadership that they are anywhere near any kind of makings of a deal that they could present to the house republican leadership -- or the house republican rank-and-file who so far have been adamantly opposed to tax increases at any level of income, which is an absolute prerequisite for president obama. if they do not come to some kind of agreement, but that tax to be voted on -- and there is doubt that it i